Next up, 21-2 Rudyard for Rayders

March 22, 2004

CHEBOYGAN - It would be mathematically impossible for the result of Charlevoix's Class C quarterfinal game this season to be closer than last season's, which the Rayders lost to Ishpeming-Westwood, 44-43.

Yet the ingredients are in place for another down-to-the-wire battle Tuesday with a similarly talented opponent in Rudyard.

Like Westwood, Rudyard is a smallish but fast and scrappy defensive team from the Upper Peninsula. Westwood's best player was Ryan Reichel, a 6-foot guard who went on to play GLIAC ball for Northern Michigan. Rudyard's best player is Matt Miller, a 6-0 guard who will go on to play GLIAC ball for Lake Superior State.

Jared Hunt, Charlevoix's 6-0 junior, has checked the opponent's top perimeter player all season. He could face his stiffest challenge yet with the future Laker.

"Miller is an outstanding guard," Charlevoix coach Keith Haske said. "He's very fast with the ball. He can shoot, he can drive, he can pass. He does everything well."

Advertisement

Miller averages 19 points, 6.5 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game. You don't want to foul him, because he shoots 90 percent from the line. But come crunch time, you'd still put Miller to the line ahead of his teammate, 6-3 senior Bobby Lohff, who shoots an amazing 94 percent form the stripe. Lohff is Rudyard's second-leading scorer at 13 points per game and leading rebounder at 9.5 per game. He'll be checked by 6-1 Charlevoix senior Bryce Daly.

Rudyard's point guard is Trent Salvo, a 5-6 sophomore who can shoot the 3-pointer and has been good for 10 points per game during the Bulldogs' postseason run. Up front Rudyard will go with 6-2 Chris Schroeder and 6-4 Tyler Carruthers against Charlevoix's senior post rotation of 6-6 Scott Friske, 6-5 Ryan DeYoung and 6-2 Kyle Kramer.

Rudyard's defensive acumen was on full display in the second half of its regional semifinal with Norway. The Bulldogs held Norway to 13 second-half points on 17 percent shooting, and won, 50-41.

"They're kind of like Grayling with their half-court trap and three-quarters court press," Haske said. "They man up, but they also play a two-three zone. The zone is pretty aggressive. They get in the passing lanes and pressure the ball."

The winner will advance to the Class C semifinals Thursday in East Lansing against either Olivet or Kent City.